New York Times correspondent Maggie Haberman asserted that CNN anchor Kaitlan Collins is the only reporter consistently challenging President Donald Trump in the White House press corps during the president's second term. Haberman made these remarks on Monday during an appearance on "The Daily Show."
Haberman, who was promoting her new book "Regime Change" with colleague Jonathan Swan, described the White House media environment as structured to include primarily journalists considered favorable to the administration. She noted that the White House controls media pool access and seating arrangements.
Despite facing insults and backlash from Trump, Haberman stated that Collins is the only one who thoroughly questions the president. "She takes an enormous amount of shit, and she keeps a total straight face. But she doesn’t have backup," Haberman said.
Haberman contrasted the current press environment with Trump's first term, noting that while challenging the president was difficult then, it was still achievable. She recalled a dynamic where reporters would follow up on each other's questions. In the current environment, Haberman explained, a question on a topic like Ukraine or Iran can lead to Trump speaking at length, shifting the focus for extended periods.
According to Haberman, direct interactions with Trump are challenging because he dictates the terms of engagement. She suggested that Trump's strategy of rapid, sometimes contradictory, statements floods the media zone, a tactic she compared to his approach during his time as a tabloid figure in New York.